Part of me thinks the iPad Mini may or may not be updated. I still think it's relatively popular. But with Apple straying towards the Pro line, I wonder the future of the Mini will be. I somewhat think the Mini will be like the iPod Touch eventually and slowly be phased out in my opinion.
Last I checked iPod Touch was still on sale. I'm certain it's not been 'slowly phased out'....
This thread is making me want an iPad mini. I LOVE my 12.9" pro, and use it as my primary computer now, having given up my iMac. I also LOVE my 6S+ and, like most people, couldn't really live without it.
However, I'd like something light enough to hold with one hand for reading in bed. I found even my Air2 to be a bit much to hold comfortably for reading. I bought a Kindle, but of course it limited me to only reading the books that were on my Kindle - no online articles or things like that. I think a mini 4 might be the best of both worlds in that I could do my Kindle book reading, and still read things online as well.
Might have to take the leap...
Time to grab one!
(Don't listen, I'm a bad influence
)
I find the iPad Pro 12.9 & iPad Mini (4) to be completely different devices that certainly excel in different areas. I'm 45 and empathize with the folks with failing eyesight! 20/20 or better my entire life and 4-5 years ago they're performance has dropped off a cliff!
I love the larger iPad for reading and production/productivity
The iPad M4 is absolutely perfect for 'games'. While I'm not a 'gamer' per se, I do have better than 24 hours of play in Real Racing 3! I've played on all of the new iPads (bride owns an iPad Pro9.7") & don't see or notice any performance differences. Today
And to the OP, I can't imagine the development landscape change significantly over the next couple years as many are still happy with A5/6/&7 devices sporting a single GB RAM. And 'lesser' SoCs than the A8. It's a killer iPad if you have issues holding their siblings.
That said, if told I could keep only one, bigger...IMHO=Better